Topic: Oil change issues/questions on a CB550 - overfilling? on 3 liters?!?!?

[davidru2]

So I did my first oil change but there's a few things that happened that are making me wonder if I missed something:

1. After draining the oil, it seemed like there was not all that much that came out, certainly not 3.2 liters, maybe 1! (yes cranked the engine on the fick starter multiple times to push everything out.)

2. I changed filter and then proceeded to put in only 3 liters, but even though is sais bike takes 3.2 the oil stick was showing overfilled

3. New oil looks pretty dirty do me and after running through the oil in the engine a bit the level looks even higher, reading dar past max level on dip stick --I thought this would go down after getting into the engine from a short ride.

Whats going on here?  Should I just drain more out?  Why does my new oil look dirty? could there have been more oil I didn't get out before?  (bike was on center stand and drained for 20 min! and I kicked it over multiple times!)

[Duke McDukiedook]

Hate to ask the obvious question since you did not mention the bike but did you drain the tank?

[strynboen]

i had the same problems.
.so now i only fills 2 liter on..make a start..and let it kool Down..and then afterfill almost to  topmarked..
think some oil are left in the inner engine housing..but im thanging so often..it looks as new ...even it a seson old

[ADW]

You do know that you do NOT screw in the dipstick to check oil level, right? Unscrew the stick, wipe it off, then just set it back in the hole without screwing it in, then pull it out and look at the level. If you screw it in to check the level it'll look overfilled.

[strynboen]

it is only  1 cm in difference to schrev the plug dovn..or just stick it Down..it thange not a lot..

[Deltarider]

Davidru, when you unscrew the drainplug, all oil should come out. It's a good practice to do this after the engineoil is warmed up a bit by riding the bike. If the bike has been sitting for longer than a year it's better to drain the oil without warming up. I do not understand why you got only one litre out.
BTW, it's better not to fill CB550s - that have the dreaded blowby gas device - to the upper mark but have (and keep) the level say halfway the two marks. When filled to the upper mark, there's a risk the paper airfilter element gets fouled by oil that somehow makes it's way through the breather tube and that no good breather filter element at the bottom of the airfilter case.

[davidru2]

yes I drained it for 20 min, and not all that much came out (under a liter!)

[davidru2]

The strange thing is that the oi level on the dip stick shows even higher than before after some brief riding.  I guess I'm just going to drain a bit out at this point.

[strynboen]

id you got fuel in the oil.(.leaking karbs...fuel gets)both inside and autside  the engine
...the oil can vaupere in hot engine kondension..and give konfusion readings..one  day there is a lot of oil..but it holds 50%gas...vho vhen the engine rand hot..it vill diaspere in a hurry..and NeXT oil  reading are ekstreme low....